KUCHING: The government’s serious take on matters relating to welfare and social protection of workers is demonstrated by its strong implementation of occupational health and safety policies across all levels from preventive measures, enforcement to compensation.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot, however, said the government’s role was not enough if the country wanted to raise the occupational safety and health policies to a whole new level.
“The nation’s workforce, employers and industrial players need to play a more pro-active role to establish and realise occupational safety and health policies in their respective organisations. The implementation of procedures including the strict observation to enforce these policies will inadvertently raise productivity,” the Serian MP said in his welcoming speech at the national-level Workers Day 2015 celebration held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here last Friday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officiated at the event which also saw the presence of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Congress of Union Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs) president Dato Azih Muda, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Khalid Atan, MEF president Tan Sri Dato Azman Shah Haron, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Touching on this year’s theme (Healthy Workers, Improved Productivity) Riot said it mirrored the importance of occupational health and safety subject matters which had a direct connection with the ability of workers, organisations and the nation as a whole in producing and raising productivity.
He hoped this year’s theme would create greater awareness among the nation’s workforce, employers and the public on the importance of establishing a healthy and safe work environment in order to increase productivity and benefit the economy.
According to Riot, the national-level Workers Day celebration held in Sarawak for the first time was the largest ever organised and attracted some 10,000 participants.
It was also the first time that the grand event was held exactly on May 1 and combining the Labour Day celebration with Cuepacs, MTUC and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
“It is also only the second time the celebration is held outside Kuala Lumpur after Melaka last year and we manage to attract participation of two big trade unions – Cuepacs for the civil service sector and MTUC,” he said.
The event also saw Najib presenting Workers Day 2015 Award in 17 categories. He also presented a mock cheque of RM28 million to Cuepacs for its Care programme.
Among the winners were X-Fab Sarawak Sdn Bhd which won the Prime Minister’s Award in Human Resource Excellence (Private Sector) 2015 and 1Malaysia Employers Award (giant corporate category) and Telekom Malaysia Bhd Workers Union Sarawak winning the 1Malaysia Workers Union Award 2015 (Private Sector).
The celebration also gave special recognition for the state’s Caring Employers Award to the state Health Department.